Okay, this movie is not as good as the original Lady for a Day which stars the late Mae Robson who was 75 years old when she starred as Apple Annie! Bette Davis is a credit to the movie but she emotes too much at times. Mae was a stronger Apple Annie. However, Bette was decent and she looks like scary as Apple Annie. The original movie script was tighter than this remake.
The cinematography and opening scenes featuring the New York streets during prohibition in color and shot in 1961 alone is enough reason to watch this movie. Bette is awesome in those scenes.
I blame Glenn Ford and his then girl-friend Hope Lange. Both had left their spouses and were screwing around in a scandalous affair. I believe Ford pulled his weight and got some useless backstory scenes for Lange and him. Who cares about Queenie paying off a debt for her Father to Ford's Dave? Who cares about the tension between Queenie and Dave and that she is done dancing and wants to play wife and mommy? Who cares that Dave keeps getting held back from his underworld deal to help Apple Annie?
Peter Falk was a credit to the movie. His Joy Boy is funny and steals the show. The funniest line is when he refuses to pretend to be Apple Annie's husband because he is already married and his wife might take offense. He was as good as Ned Sparks who played the same character, Happy in the original and had the same lines.
Finally. Thomas Mitchell is the judge and this is Mitchell's last movie. He died in 1962. I loved every minute watching an engaging Mitchell entertain us in his role as the judge. Thomas Mitchell was perfect and I miss him! He was a superb actor and helps bring life to the movie. I love his empathy towards Apple Annie and his comic timing. It was great how the judge got Dave out of paying a $50k dowery. Mitchell was 70 years old when he died. Just think if he could have lived on another 10 to 15 more years and acted in a few more movies. He was a dear treasure and warmly remembered actor. Who can ever forget the great Uncle Billy from It's a Wonderful Life?
Watch this movie and the go back to 1933 and watch the original, Lady for a Day. A Pocketful of Miracles is good and Lady for a Day is great.
The cinematography and opening scenes featuring the New York streets during prohibition in color and shot in 1961 alone is enough reason to watch this movie. Bette is awesome in those scenes.
I blame Glenn Ford and his then girl-friend Hope Lange. Both had left their spouses and were screwing around in a scandalous affair. I believe Ford pulled his weight and got some useless backstory scenes for Lange and him. Who cares about Queenie paying off a debt for her Father to Ford's Dave? Who cares about the tension between Queenie and Dave and that she is done dancing and wants to play wife and mommy? Who cares that Dave keeps getting held back from his underworld deal to help Apple Annie?
Peter Falk was a credit to the movie. His Joy Boy is funny and steals the show. The funniest line is when he refuses to pretend to be Apple Annie's husband because he is already married and his wife might take offense. He was as good as Ned Sparks who played the same character, Happy in the original and had the same lines.
Finally. Thomas Mitchell is the judge and this is Mitchell's last movie. He died in 1962. I loved every minute watching an engaging Mitchell entertain us in his role as the judge. Thomas Mitchell was perfect and I miss him! He was a superb actor and helps bring life to the movie. I love his empathy towards Apple Annie and his comic timing. It was great how the judge got Dave out of paying a $50k dowery. Mitchell was 70 years old when he died. Just think if he could have lived on another 10 to 15 more years and acted in a few more movies. He was a dear treasure and warmly remembered actor. Who can ever forget the great Uncle Billy from It's a Wonderful Life?
Watch this movie and the go back to 1933 and watch the original, Lady for a Day. A Pocketful of Miracles is good and Lady for a Day is great.